Oven-Baked Meat Pie with Spiced Beef Filling

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-12 · Updated 2026-07-12

A classic Australian meat pie featuring tender, spiced ground beef encased in flaky golden pastry, perfect for a comforting family dinner. This Australian-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 75 minutes, layers all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, cold water into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 6, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (cold, cubed) unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup cold water
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium (finely chopped) onion
• 2 (minced) garlic cloves
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour (for thickening)
• 1 (beaten for egg wash) egg

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup cold cubed unsalted butter. Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add 1/3 cup cold water and mix until a dough forms. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
2. Step 2: Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 lb ground beef, 1 finely chopped medium onion, and 2 minced garlic cloves. Cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking up the meat until browned and onion is translucent.
3. Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste, 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, and 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg. Sprinkle 2 tbsp all-purpose flour over the mixture and stir for 1 minute to cook out the raw flour taste.
4. Step 4: Slowly pour in 1 cup beef broth while stirring to combine. Cook for 5 minutes until the filling thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
5. Step 5: Roll out two-thirds of the chilled dough on a floured surface into a 9-inch circle and press into a 9-inch pie dish. Spoon the meat filling evenly into the crust.
6. Step 6: Roll out the remaining dough into a circle to cover the pie. Place over filling and pinch edges to seal. Cut a few slits on top to vent steam. Brush the top crust with 1 beaten egg.
7. Step 7: Bake in the preheated 400°F oven for 25-30 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.